[Per Press Agency. ] DUNEDIN. 20th February.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 350, 21 February 1879, Page 2

[Per Press Agency. ] DUNEDIN. 20th February.

Tl)6re are 105 Chinese employed on the Tapanui railway contract, and it is rumored that others aro going to bo put on. Two cottages ia Howe-street were destroyed by fire to-night. One of them, which had been occupied by Samuel Hawkins, commercial traveller, and which belonged to Mr. Duding, was insured in the National for £250. Hawkins' furniture was insured in the Union for £400, and he estimates his loss at £1000. Tho other cottage, occupied by Walter Scrivener, an accountant, was also insured, but to what extent could not be ascertained. Scrivener's furniture was insured in the Staodard for £100. Most of the furniture was saved. The fire was caused by the bursting of a kerosene lamp used by Mr. Hawkins. A statement has been prepared by tbe City Treasurer, Mr. John Jamieson, by order of the Finance Committee, showing the financial position of the Corporation. This shows a balance at the credit of the consolidated loan account in tbe Bank of New Zealand of £142,250 13s. lid. Balance* in the Bank are as follows :— Municipal account, £39,060 193. 9d.; water, £26,903 14s. 2d.j gas, £10,523. The balances of loans available for new works are as follows: — Municipal department, £26,535; water, £29,770; gas, £17,153. A yonng man named George Stewart, late clerk in the National Back of New Zealand at Balclutha, was committed for trial at the ensuing session of the District Court at Tokoroairiro, on two charges of larceny a3 a bailee, viz , stealing two cheques of the value of £6 and £27, the property of William Hay, Glen Oinara, fcouth Molyneux.

R.M., this morning. A lad named James Langhan, aged 10 years, charged with being a vagrant, is a son of Langhan who was sentenced twelve months ago to twenty years imprisonment for inflicting wounds on his wife which caused her death. Since the man's imprisonment, his children have been wandering in a state of destitution. One son was found in a pah at Ohinemuri the other day living with the natives, and the one in Court to-day for the last three days has been begging from door to door, and sleeping in the coal yards, or where he could lay his head. The M agistrate is perplexed to know what to do for the youth, and finally disposed of him for one nnnth by placing him in Mr. Miller' 9 custody, and ia the meantime promised to communicate with the Government with a view of getting him into the Naval Training School.